234 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



CHAP. V. 



THE COASTS OF SICILY, 

 TRAPANI. THE ISLANDS OF FAVIGNANA. 



Journey to Trapani. The ancient splendour of that city. The 

 doves of Venus Erycina ; the women of San- Juliano. Departure 

 for the Islands of Favignana. Cordial reception. Geological 

 structure of the islands. Cultivation of the land and sources of 

 industry. Tunny fishery. Researches on the circulation. 

 Independence of functions. Progressive perfection of organisms. 

 Phlebenterism. The labours of M. Edwards, and my own 

 researches. The opposition which these labours at first expe- 

 rienced. Applications. General consequences. 



THE rain, cold, and wind, which had met the Santa 

 Rosalia on her arrival at Santo- Yito, still con- 

 tinued. We found it almost impossible to pursue 

 our labours in our windowless rooms ; and our ex- 

 plorations among the rocks, which were incessantly 

 washed by the waves, became every day more diffi- 

 cult and less successful. We therefore found it ne- 

 cessary at once to seek new quarters. This time we 

 determined to proceed by land ; and whilst our boat 

 was contending, under the able command of Perone, 

 against the rough gales that continued to blow from 

 the west, we, in the prosecution of our land journey, 

 were following a mule track which, winding along 

 the extreme edge of the rugged mountain side, never 

 deviated far from the sea, excepting when the over- 



